Claflin Fountain flowing again in Hopkinton

HOPKINTON — Sculptor Jeff Buccacio recently added a fresh coat of paint to the century-old Claflin Memorial Fountain on the Town Common to get it flowing again.

The town temporarily shut off the cast-iron fountain to solve a problem with rust. The fountain's age is likely at fault, Buccacio said.

"All it takes is one pinhole to create a ton of rust," he said.

Buccacio restored the fountain for the town's 300th anniversary in 2015. He re-created a middle section that is estimated to have been removed 70 years ago. The top post of the fountain was lowered when the middle section was removed.

Last Wednesday, Buccacio scraped off the rust and added a new coat of three-part epoxy marine paint to prevent further corrosion.

The Parks and Recreation Department, along with Buccacio, has come up with a maintenance plan for the fountain, said Jay Guelfi, director.

"We are probably going to have to paint it every year," Guelfi said. "We will continue to address it as it happens through our annual maintenance plan."

Residents Eric Sonnett and Ken Weismantel are keeping an eye on the fountain. Mike Beattie of Hopkinton Country Club helped with the irrigation system.

In July, crews will instal a pressured system to feed the fountain from the Town Common's sprinkler system.

"I am just overjoyed," he said of the fountain flowing again. "People have called me and text messaged me. Whenever we are working on it people stop by to talk about it."

The Parks and Recreation Commission is working on plans to install an 18-inch decorative iron fence. Different committees are figuring out the best design.

The cast-iron fountain with bronze ornaments was erected in memory of Charles Winslow Claflin and Ann Maria Claflin by their son Charles L. Claflin in 1907, according to an inscription on the fountain. It was placed on the Town Common across the street from the family home, according to a report completed on the fountain in February 2008.

The town restored the fountain with $135,000 in Community Preservation Act money.

The maintenance plan is worth it, Buccacio said

"We are losing things like this all over the country," he said. "Some people might see it as just a fountain. I see our history and heritage as makers of art and beautiful objects."

Jonathan Phelps can be reached at 508-626-4338 or jphelps@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JPhelps_MW.